Welcome to another addition to our MLB Female Fan Series where we feature diehard female fans that support their team through 162 games, hot weather, heated rivalries and good old fashioned baseball traditions.
During the series we will feature women for every franchise and their stories on how they became a baseball fan, who their hated rivals are, what their favorite food at the ballpark and more. Ladies simply answer a few questions on why they fell in love with the great game of baseball and we get to share in someone else’s baseball traditions that could be the same as our own.
Next we have Carrie and Jen and by their answers alone, you can tell they are true diehard Brewers fans and some of the best women we have featured so far in this series.
Read more to see how they became diehard Brewers fans…
Carrie Cihasky
Location: Indianapolis
Favorite Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Twitter: @CarrieCihasky
GuysGirl: How long have you been a baseball fan?
Carrie: All 31 years of my life–growing up in Milwaukee you are brought up to love the Packers and Brewers the moment you are born.
Where did your initial love for baseball come from?
It’s a combination of both my family and my city. Growing up my family would go to games and being in Milwaukee we did a ton of field trips to games. The city has a strong baseball culture so that definitely developed my love.
What is single most thing you look forward to while at a baseball game?
Tie: tailgating and the sausage races–no other city comes close to matching either of them–Wisconsites have tailgating down to a science and how can you NOT love the concept of racing SAUSAGES?
What is your favorite food at the ball park?
Hot dogs.
What is your favorite MLB tradition?
Tie: The racing sausages and hearing Bob Uecker announce games–he’s one of the best baseball sportcasters ever and beloved amongst Brewers fans. It wouldn’t be a Brewers’ game without either.
What team do you hate the most?
Tie: Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
Which team has the worst fans?
Cubs–they are mean and cocky considering their team that always blows it in the end.
What is your favorite memory at a baseball game or about baseball in general?
Growing up I remember watching Robin Yount and Paul Molitor play–they are my favorite Brewers of all time. While it’s not a memory at a game, I LOVE seeing the old County Stadium in one of my favorite movies, Major League, which was filmed in Milwaukee. It’s a point of pride for us Brewers fans. My favorite recent memory is just a few hours ago when I learned that Ryan Braun won his appeal! Bring on Opening Day and the Cardinals baby!!!!
Could you ever date someone who was an avid fan of your hated rival?
I have and considering I’m single you see how well that worked out.
When people ask “How can you watch baseball? It’s so boring!”, what do you say to them?
1. GOLF is boring. and 2. You’ve probably been watching too many Twins games (I went to the Univ. of MN so I can say that).
Jen Iwen
Location: Milwaukee
Favorite Team: Milwaukee Brewers
GuysGirl: How long have you been a baseball fan?
Jen: Since 1988 or so – age 12 or 13
Where did your initial love for baseball come from?
My family – my mom is still my favorite person to attend a game with. We talk about baseball every single day, even in the offseason, and we’ve travelled to many stadiums together. Not many moms call their daughters to complain about something a baseball announcer said – in a game that doesn’t even involve their team. I had a little lapse after the 1994 strike (as most people did), but I love baseball even more now than I did as a kid. It’s a connection to family and to baseball history. I remember my dad telling me about Sandy Koufax’ curveball or Ryne Duren’s lack of control, and my mom telling me about Hank Aaron’s home run to win the 1957 pennant – and that makes me love baseball more, too.
What is single most thing you look forward to while at a baseball game?
Picking one thing is impossible. Maybe arriving at the ballpark early to watch BP on a sunny day with a cold beer… and the fact that you can see something you’ve never seen before every play, every game. I love traveling to different stadiums and seeing the unique things at each place. I love the green grass, the crack of the bat, the rhythm of an easy double play, the first workouts of Spring Training, the pop of the ball hitting the catcher’s mitt… it all feels like home, regardless of which ballpark I’m in.
What is your favorite food at the ball park?
I’m from Milwaukee, so I’ve gotta say brats with secret stadium sauce, but I love unique ballpark food anywhere. If it’s something they don’t have at any other ballpark – I’ll probably try it. Underrated Milwaukee concession: brisket sandwich.
What is your favorite MLB tradition?
I love the 7th inning stretch in Milwaukee – Take Me Out to the Ball Game and the Beer Barrel Polka. It appalls me that some teams skip it on Sundays for God Bless America – in Milwaukee on Sundays, we just sing all three songs. I also love Opening Day, keeping score, and I love seeing other people that keep score. I can’t think of any baseball traditions that I don’t love, and the fact that there are so many is one of the reasons I love baseball. And I hate to say this, but I usually make a bathroom run during the sausage race. I know, I know, but it’s the longest between-inning break where I’m not required to sing, so I can usually make it back and only miss a little bit of the game. I like the sausage race.. but I like the game more.
What team do you hate the most?
It varies, and it’s a little weird for me because my team switched leagues – we hardly play the teams I used to hate. Lately the Cardinals have been our fiercest rival… but I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for hating the White Sox, since they were our biggest rivals when I was a kid. It took a long time to get over my Blue Jay hatred after Paul Molitor left, but I’m OK now.
Which team has the worst fans?
I’ve never been treated badly at an opponent’s ballpark – even at Wrigley or Busch. True baseball fans treat each other with respect. Any “fans” that don’t pay attention to the game are the worst fans – and that happens everywhere. I have little patience for people who go to a baseball game, and then don’t watch any of it. Just stay home (or if you want to spend the whole time drinking – go to a bar instead). Having said that, the most obnoxious fans I’ve encountered were so-called Yankee fans in Tampa, but I certainly wouldn’t call them true Yankee fans.
What is your favorite memory at a baseball game or about baseball in general?
Going to games with my family at County Stadium as a kid – I think we all love our childhood ballparks most. As far as specific games, Nolan Ryan’s 300th win, the first Brewers playoff game in 2008 after 20+ years of missing the playoffs (mostly losing seasons), and game 5 of the NLDS last year – Nyjer Morgan’s extra-winning walkoff hit to send the Brewers to the NLCS – were all memorable to attend.
Another one of my favorite memories was in 2002, when there was an imminent work stoppage – I was feeling down about MLB, so I went to a single A Beloit Snappers game (Prince Fielder was there at the time) to get a little of the grass-roots love back. If you think all ballplayers are greedy millionaires – go to a minor league game sometime, especially the lower levels. Anyway, the Snappers were down in the late innings, and there were 4 older ladies (maybe in their 70s) sitting in front of me. They all put on their rally caps – it was like seeing myself in 50 years, and it made me feel good to think that these ladies really loved baseball, and had their own traditions and stories.
Could you ever date someone who was an avid fan of your hated rival?
Yes – as long as they were equally reasonable.
When people ask “How can you watch baseball? It’s so boring!”, what do you say to them?
It’s a game of strategy – if you think the slower pace makes it boring, then you don’t understand the game. And you should listen to Vin Scully sometime.
Big thanks to Carrie and Jen for answering our questions about being a baseball fan. We all have a certain way we fell in love with the game and this is just one story of many more to come.
